A repressed memory, according to some theories
of psychology, is a memory (often traumatic) of an event or environment which
is stored by the unconscious mind but outside the awareness of the conscious
mind. Some theorize that these memories may be recovered (that is, integrated
into consciousness) years or decades after the event.

There currently exists controversy among
psychologists as to whether repressed memories actually exist, and even more
controversy over whether recovering repressed memories is a legitimate
phenomenon. This is particularly important as many controversial criminal
cases have been based on witness testimony of recovered repressed memories,
often of alleged childhood sexual abuse.

One popular theory on how repression works is
that traumatic memories are stored scattered about in the amygdala and
hippocampus but not integrated into the neocortex. Also, it could be possible
the right brain stores the memory but does not communicate it to the verbal
left brain. But evidence suggesting repression can sometimes be a continual
active effort by the unconscious which can be dropped at a moments notice
should the unconscious decide to and then possibly rerepressed (!) would
seem to suggest a more complicated model. For example, one possibility might
be the anterior cingular actively inhibits the memory from reaching
consciousness.

On the other hand, skeptics of theories of repressed
memory suggest that the supposedly "recovered" memories are actually false
memories, often based on subtle suggestions by the questioner. Recent research
demonstrating the relative ease of deliberately implanting false memories
has been cited as evidence for this hypothesis. Hundreds of people who went
through therapy and were convinced that they had been abused by their family
members have recanted and no longer believe they were abused. More information
can be found at the website for the False Memory Syndrome.

A common explanation among proponents of the
existence of repression for the widespread skepticism and denial is that
the skeptics are denying their own traumatic experiences themselves and/or
they are perpetrators themselves.

False memories, confabulations and screen memories
can be implanted/confabulated, as for example, in past life regression and
alien abductions.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists summarized
their position as:

Psychiatrists are advised to avoid engaging in
any "memory recovery techniques" which are based upon the expectation of
past sexual abuse of which the patient has no memory. Such...techniques may
include drug-mediated interviews ["truth serum"], hypnosis, regression therapies,
guided imagery, "body memories," literal dream interpretation, and journaling.
There is no evidence that the use of consciousness-altering techniques, such
as drug-mediated interviews or hypnosis, can reveal or accurately elaborate
factual information about any past experiences, including sexual abuse.

The information above is not intended
for and should not be used as a substitute for the diagnosis and/or treatment
by a licensed, qualified, health-care professional. This article is licensed
under the GNU Free Documentation
License. It incorporates material originating from the Wikipedia article
"Repressed
memory".